Bridge of Glass

Christian Mohr Levisen hails from Denmark, while his musical partner Björn Kaidel comes from Germany. Together, they record as Plønk, however these two gifted musicians only comprise one half of a captivating equation. They are completed by two extraordinary instruments – a pair of antique waldzithers. The waldzither is a traditional nine-string cittern, and the models Björn and Christian play are exquisite examples, handcrafted by C.H. Böhm in Hamburg, sometime around 1920. Bridge of Glass contains the duo’s interpretations of classic tunes, with some of their own enchanting originals mixed in. In the duo’s expert hands, the waldzithers sing with deep, rich and resonant tones, like rays of sunshine filtered through sweet wine. They can also be surprisingly percussive, such as during the lively ‘Frogs and Fireflies’, which skips along quite beautifully. Elsewhere, we have the meditative ‘Viggo Post’ – a delicately floating tune, as poignant as a bittersweet memory. As its title suggests, this album is glittering, transportive and ever so wondrous.